Side-fed forming press for elongated workpieces and feed and discharge mechanism therefor



March 4, 1952 D. o. M CALL 2,538,325

SIDE-FED FORMING PRESS FOR ELONGATED WORKPIECES AND FEED AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

' QONALO 0. Mc CALL BY MM D. O. M CALL March 4, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 50,

M EHMH INVENTOR.

yam/440 0. Mc C44;

N5 m w\\ s Ms. AN M Q N m wu MM MP MM 8% mm I 1. Mn N\ UWm $7 March 4, 1952 D. o. M CALL 2,538,325

SIDE-FED FORMING PREss FOR ELONGATED WORKPIECES AND FEED AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed June 30, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

001mm 0. MC CALL Mz/%%W March 4, 1952 D. o. M CALL 2,588,325

SIDE-FED FORMING PRESS FOR ELONGATED WORKPIECES AND FEED AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed June 50, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 SIDE-FED FORMING PRESS FOR ELONGATED WORKPIECES AND FEED AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed June 30, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 1952 D o. MOCALL- 2,588,325

IE'IE J CI I N VEN TOR. DON/7L0 0. Ma CWLL Patented Mar. 4, 1952 SIDE-FED FORMING PRESS FOR ELONGAT- ED WORKPIECES AND FEED AND DIS- CHARGE MECHANISM THEREFOR Donald 0. McCall, Napa, Calif., ass gnor to Basalt Rock Company, Inc, Napa, Calif., a corporation of California Application lune so, 1949, Serial No. 102,358

21 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the art of pressing elongated work pieces or blanks mto desired structural shapes, such as pipe, and is, more particularly, concerned with aforming press which is constructed to permit the blanks to be fed to the machine from the side, and/or to permit the pressed pieces to be discharged to the side, and with an improved mechanism for feeding and/or discharging work pieces to or from the press.

a forming press for making steel pipe from elongated, trough-like channels, sometimes known as U-ed blanks, which are fed onto a stationary lower die having an elongated forming groove, and wherein an upper, movable die, having a complementary elongated forming groove, moves down to bend the channel into pipe of circular cross section. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific forming press but may be applied to other presses wherein elongated products of other shapes are formed, because the invention is particularly concerned with the general arrangement of the dies to permit lateral feeding and/or discharge of the elongated work pieces, with the mechanism for feeding such work pieces to and for discharging such work pieces from the press, and with the combination of the press, feed and dis charge mechanism and conveyor system cooperating with the said mechanism and press.

Considerable design and engineering difficulties are presented in handling heavy, elongated work pieces for such forming presses. For example, when 12-inch steel pipe is to be formed weighs about one and a quarter tons, and it becomes necessary to support the work piece on rollers or similar conveyors to prevent friction and to avoid damage and scuffing of the work piece and dies; moreover, such heavy blanks must be moved at comparatively low speeds to avoid damage to the edges unless elaborate driving and braking devices are used. It is apparent that moving the work pieces into and out of such presses by an endwise or longitudinal motion is time-consuming and requires a complicated conveyor arrangement in that either the rollers or conveyor be moved out of the way of the forming members before the latter are closed on each other, or the forming members must be provided with recesses or slots through which the conveying elements can be retracted, resulting in a weakening of the forming members. The arrangement of the conveyors is further complicated when the work piece has a rounded cross .10 The invention will be described as applied to 2 section and does not extend laterally beyond the sides of the forming member.

It is a principal object of the invention 'to fa cilitate and simplify the operation jof feeding elongated work pieces to and/or discharging them from a forming pressby providing a support for supporting an elongated work" piece alongside of the press, and a transfer device for transferring the work piece laterally between a position on the supportand a position amidst the forming members, the device having enga'gf ing members for engaging the ends of thewo'rl; piece. A further objectis to speedup the feeding and discharging operations by providing two such supports, one on each side of the pressjand each provided with a transfer device, said devices being arranged for synchronousoperation, whereby a fresh blank can be fed from one sup port into the press simultaneously with the discharge of a finished work piece from the press onto the "other support on the opposite side;

A more specific object is to provide a forming press with forming members for pressing elongated articles having a support along'its side and provided'with an improvedtransfer device comprising a pair of pivotally mounted loading beams at the ends of the press carrying reciprocable engaging plungers at their free ends, each plunger being provided with a motor, such as a pneumatic piston and cylinder, whereby the plungers may be inserted into the ends of the workpiece prior to the transfer operation, while the work piece is either on the support or inthe press, and may be retracted from the workpiece in 40-foot lengths from inch steel, each blank 1:3

at the completion of the transfer operation. Ans cillary thereto, it is an object to arrange the transfer device so that itcan operate effectively with Work pieces of different sectional sizes. I, 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide a forming press of the type indicated havin a lateral device for feeding and/or discharging working pieces to or from the press which is provided with a conveyor for moving work pieces to a position alongside of the. press and/or for removing dischargedrwork pieces from a posi tion alongside of the press wherein the forming press, transfer device and conveyor are coordinated so that the conveyor can perform its function while the press is operating, thereby saving time and increasing the number of work pieces that canbe handled by the press isa-given time. Preferably, such a press is provided with a transfer' device and conveyor on each side, so that a fresh work piece can be moved bythe conveyor to a position along one side of the press and "a finished work piece can be removed from a position along the other side of the press while the forming members of the press are brought together. a

Only the principal objects of the invention were outlined above, and additional objects will become apparent from a reading of the following description.

In summary, the invention is applied to a forming press having a pair of longitudinally elongated, relatively movable forming members, such as dies having half-rounded cylindrical forming grooves or the like, for pressing an elongated work piece into .a desired shape, and means, such as a hydraulic piston, for moving the forming members apart and toward each other. A support for the elongated work pieces (which may be a part of the conveyor to be described) is provided on one and, preferably, on both sides of .the press for .supportingthe work pieces alongside of the press. While two supports,:one for holding a work piece in readinose to be fed laterally into the press on one side, and the other for receiving a discharged work piece "on the other side, are preferred, the invention may :be adapted to use with only one support for performing .either one of these functions, or for performing both functions in succession. The press is constructed to be wholly unobstructed between the support and the space between the forming members when the latter are'apart. Atransfer .device is provided between each support and the forming members, com prising an engaging member at each end of the press and suitable mechanism, such as a pivoted loading beam for each engaging member beyond the ends of the press, for transferring the working piece between 'a position on the support alongside of the press and a position amidst the forming members .in a direction depending upon whether the transfer is-usedfor feeding or for discharging. It will be understood that a transfer device of this type is to 'be used with work pieces which have some longitudinal rigidity and which'have, at least at their end portions, surfaces capable of supporting the work piece by engagement with the engaging member, such as pipe or hollow, crimped U-shaped blanks. The support or supports is/are preferably associated with a conveyor, such as a series of parallel, spaced rollers which may be idlers or power driven, or with some other conveyor, such as one having a series of supports moved by a chain along a track (as is in itself known in the art), and the transfer device is arranged to move the engaging elements clear both of the press and of the line of travel of the work pieces on the conveyor, whereby the press can be operated while a work piece is being moved along the conveyor; in this manner no time .is lost in moving a work piece onto or off of thesupportafter the press has completed its forming operation, and the feeding and discharging operations can proceed as soon .as the forming members have been moved apart.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating one preferred embodiment of the press, wherein:

- Fig. '1 is aside elevation of the press, partlyin section, "with the loading beams :in raised positions;

Fig. 2 is a plan section, taken on line 22 of 4 Fig. 1 with the loading beams toward the discharge side of the press;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing work pieces in the press;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged-plan view of the elements at the right end of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5' is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 4;

Figs. 6' and '7 are enlarged transverse sectional views taken on lines 66 and 'i'i, respectively, of Fig. 4 but showing the cams rotated to positions corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram;

Fig. 9' is a longitudinal section through a pneumatic cylinder and engaging plunger, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 10 is a schematic piping diagram.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the press is shown mounted in a pit 8 with concretewalls 9 to lower the elevation of the die members so that the blanks can be moved to and from the press above the ground level IE! by suitable conveyors. H and [2 denote upright frames, spaced apart longitudinallyat a distance of about half the length of the press, i. e., at the quarter points. The press, except for the conveyor system and certain mechanism relating to the drive mechanism for the loading beams, is symmetrical abouta vertical transverse plane midway between the frames, so that in parts of the following description only the elements at one end of the press will be described by reference characters.

The upright frames have their legs or columns Ila and H17 (01' 12a and I212) spaced apart transversely as shown in Fig. 2 so as to straddle not only the lower, stationary die l3 but also the conveyor rollers on axes A and B, to be described. The'die has a longitudinal forming groove 13a of cylindrical shape with a semi-circular cross section'in its upper face, and is supported along its length by heavy rigid base girders l4 and i5, fitted end-to-end. Coacting with the lower die is a movable upper die It having on its lower face an elongated forming groove lfia, also cylindrical in shape and semi-circular in cross section to form a hollow space of circular cross'section when moved to engagement with the lower die. The upper die is supported and given rigidity by die girders IT and I8 which are fixed to slides vertically movable in the frame legs. The lower portions of these slides are indicated at I!) in Fig. 2. The girders H and i8 are connected at their central portions with-double-acting pistons 20 and 2! which are vertically movable within hydraulic cylinders 22 and 23 carried by the upright frames. Upon admitting a hydraulic fluid such as oil to the upper or lower ends of the cylinders from a suitable source (not shown) the upper die [6 can be moved downwardly or upwardly, respectively. The parts described up to this point (with the exception of the wide transverse spacing between the legs ofthe upright frames) are well known, and no further detailed description thereof is believed to be necessary.

A first conveyor system. for feeding blanks to the press comprises rollers 25, 26, with their axes transverse to a line of movement A which is parallel to the forming dies and on the feed side thereof within the frame legs Ha and lZa. The

rollers 25 are idlers and the rollers 25 may be powered by electric motors 21. It will be noted that the rollers comprise two frusto-conic'al portions for centering a work piece or blank having a generally convex lower portion, such as a blank shown in phantom at a in Fig. 3. While the motors 21 may be controlled by any suitable electrical control circuit, it is preferred to provide a limit switch or automatic controller as shown in Figs. 4 and 5: A circuit breaker having a pivoted control arm 28 and an engaging roller 29 is mounted beneath the line of travel of the work pieces with the roller 29 at the point at which it is desired to stop the work piece. The roller is urged upwardly by a spring 30, to close electrical contacts 3| which are connected in the control circuit for the motors. When the contacts 3| are opened by depression of the roller the motors 21 are stopped. The roller 29 normally extends slightly above the level of the bottom of the work piece on the conveyor rollers, but is depressed when a work piece (shown in phantom in Fig. 5) engages it. The blank will, therefore, be advanced toward the rear of the press in the direction indicated by the arrow on the line A until the roller 29 is depressed; this stops the motor 21 and brings the blank to a, stop at the correct position alongside of the lower die. The specific arrangement of the circuit breaker and the electrical drive for the rollers 26 are well understood per se and form no part of the invention and no further description thereof is, therefore, necessary. It may, however, be mentioned that speeds from about one to four feet per second for the work piece are typical and that the motors are conveniently coupled to the rollers by worm drives, as shown, to permit a rapid stopping of the blank.

A second conveyor system for discharging formed or pressed blanks comprises a second group of idler rollers 32 and powered rollers 33, with their axes transverse to a line of movement B which is also parallel to the forming dies but on the discharge side thereof and within the frame legs Nb and I217. The direction of movement along line B may, of course, be in either desired direction, and the arrow direction is indicated for purposes of illustration. These rollers are constructed similarly to the feed rollers, and rollers 33 are driven by electric motors 33a.

It will be noted that the rollers which are alongside of the lower die form supports; the rollers on the feed side are adapted to hold a blank in readiness for transfer onto the lower die, and those on the discharge side are adapted to receive a pressed blank upon being transferred from the lower die. When the upper die is in its raised, position the space between these supports and the lower die is unobstructed for the entire length of the die.

A pair of loading beams 34 and 35 are connectednear the ends of a longitudinal shaft 36 in parallel disposition, beyond the ends of the lower die. The shaft 36 is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis between the lower die and the line A in bearing supports 31. A second pair of loading beams 38 and 39 are similarly connected near the ends of a longitudinal shaft 40, rotatably mounted in bearing supports 4| about a longitudinal axis between the lower die and the line B. Each of the four loading beams forms a feed arm carrying at its free end a movable engaging member for engaging the blank. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, theengaging members are longitudinally reciprocable engaging plungers 42 having discs 43. The

.four discs 43 on the four loading beams may be of like diameter as shown; however, the diameters may, be diiferentto conform to the shape, of

the blank, which may in some instances be different at its two ends, and different before and after being pressed.

For mounting and moving the engaging plungers each loading beam orieed arm has a pneumatic cylinder 44 formed integrally at the outer end thereof. As shown in Fig. 9, each cylinder contains therein a piston or feed arm. plunger 42 at one end of which the disc 43 is mounted by screw 45. Plungers 42 are free to rotate within the cylinders 44. The ends of each cylinder are closed by screw plugs 46 and 41 having pressed leather sealing gaskets 48 and 49. The piston rod carries a piston indicated generally at 50, and built up of a ring 5| engaging at one side thereof an annular shoulder '52 integral with the piston rod; a pair of pressed leather gaskets 53 and 54, separated by an annular disc 55; and an internally threaded ring 56 screwed to the piston rod. The cylinders 44 on each pair of loading beams on the same side of the press are in axial alignment and are in rightand left-hand relation so that the discs 43 face each other. Ports 51 and 58 permit high pressure air to be admitted or vented selectively from opposite sides of the piston through flexible hose connections 59 and 60, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 10, the flexible hose connections 59 from the cylinders at opposite ends of the press are interconnected by a pipe 6 I, thereby interconnecting the ports 51 on the remote ends of the cylinders; similarly, the flexible connections 60 to the nearer ends of the cylinders are interconnected by pipe 62. These pipes are connected to spring loaded, three-position valves 63 and 54, respectively, which are arranged to isolate the pipes 61 and 62 when in their normal, intermediate positions. Each valve has a reciprocable plunger which, when raised by its spring to above its normal position, connects its pipe 6| or 52 to an air discharge vent 65 and, when depressed, connects its pipe to a high pressure air inlet pipe 66 which is connected to a compressor or other source of pressure, not shown. The valves are mechanically actuated by a lever 61, which may be located at the control station, and is arranged so that only one valve plunger can be depressed at one time. When the lever is tilted from its normal position shown, it depresses one plunger and simultaneously permits the other valve plunger to rise, urged by its spring, not shown. Thereby either pipe 6| or 62 may be selectively connected to the source of high pressure air, the other pipe being simultaneously vented to atmosphere.

It is evident that when the lever 61 is moved to admit high pressure air into the pipe BI and to vent the pipe 62 the plungers 42 and their discs 43 are moved toward each other, permitting them to enter the ends of a blank for supportingly engaging it. Similarly, when the lever is moved to the opposite position the pipe 6! is vented and air under pressure is admitted to the pipe 52, thereby moving the plungers 42 apart and retracting the discs 43 from the blank. The two pairs of cylinders 44 on the opposite sides of the press may be provided with separate piping as shown in Fig. 10, or may be connected to the same system, whereby all four plungers and disc are operated in unison.

It is seen that each disc 43, with its supporting piston rod 42, forms a recip-rocable plunger or engaging member provided with pneumatic motor means for eiiecting reciprocatory motion.

The loading beams and cylinders ;44; arose positinned that when the discs are moved'apart or retracted they are clear of the ends of the blank to be engaged, and the strokes of the p-lungers are sufficient to permit the discs to enter both ends of the blank. The roller 28 on the limit switch, previously described, is positioned so as to cause a blank on the conveyor rollers on the feed side to come to rest in a position between the transverse, vertical planes containing the discs 63 in retracted positions.

A pair of sprockets t3 and 59, of like diameter and interconnected by a chain l, are adjustably fixed to the shafts 3E and M3 by set screws The sprockets are adjusted so that the discs at on the feed side of the press are over the conveyor rollers on the feed side at the proper elevation to engage a work piece W thereon (as shown in dotted lines at a, Fig. 3) when the discs 43 on the other side of the press are toward the lower die at the proper elevation to engage a pressed blank resting on the die. Simultaneous rotation of the shafts SE and ts causes the discs on the feed side to swing into positions over the prolongation of the center of the lower die to deposit a fresh blank thereon and causes the discs on the other pair of beams to swing toward the discharge rollers to deposit a pressed blank thereon. The sprockets can be adjusted on the shafts to vary the indexing or angular relation between shafts 328 and Ml, thereby permitting blanks of different sizes to be handled by the loading beams. Discs d3 of difierent sizes may, of course, be substituted when necessary.

A drive sprocket T2 is fixed to the shaft 36 and meshes with a drive chain '53 driven by a sprocket three-phase induction motor powered from an 1 electric circuit l3, controlled by two magnetically-controlled switches 86 and 8 l, mechanically interlocked by a linkage, schematically indicated at 82, for preventing more than one switch from being in closed position at the same time. The output circuits 83 from the switches are arranged so that the motor will operate in one direction when the switch 8% is closed, and in the other direction when the switch 85 is closed.

for closing the switches.

Solenoids 8d and 85 are energized from a source of electric current (not shown) supplied to'leads 86, which may be either direct current or alternating current, depending upon the design of the solenoids. Spring loaded, normally open, push button starter switches 3? and 853, having springs 89 and 9B, are connected to the controlling solenoids S4 and 85, respectively. These push button switches are connected in series with normally closed limit switches d! and 532, respectively. The circuit is completed through a normally closed, emergency stopping switch 93. When the button 8'! is pushed inthe control circuit is energized through switch 93, solenoid 84, switch Bl, and

switch 91L Thiscloses switch 30, causing operation of the motor 78 in one direction to move the loading beams toward the feed side, until the control circuit is opened either by limit switch 95 or by releasing'starting switch Bl. (Closing of These switches are provided with solenoids 8 and 135i i so switch 82 is prevented by mechanical interlock fid'an'd 82.) When either switch 9| or switch 81 is opened solenoid 34 is de-energized, opening switch 8%. Similarly, when button 88 is depressed the control circuit is completed through switch 93, solenoid 85, and switches 88 and 92.

It is evident that the loading beams may be stopped at any position by releasing the push button switch dl or $8, or by opening the switch 93. To facilitate automatic stopping of the motor with the discs 43 in the correct positions previously described cams 95 and 98, having lobes a and 96a, are adjustably mounted on shaft 36. Cam followers 9? and 98, urged against the cams by springs 99 and Hill, are connected to the movable arms of the limit switches 9| and S2, respectively. Figs. 6-8 show the cams in the positions they assume when the loading beams are vertical,

with both limit switches closed. When the starting switch 8.? is closed the cams rotate in counterclockwise directions (as seen in Figs. 6-8, looking toward the front end of the machine) until the lobe a opens the limit switch 9!. Similarly, when the switch 88 is depressed the cams rotate in a clockwise direction until the lobe 96a opens the limit switch d2. The extent of travel of the shafts 3t and and their loading beams can be adjusted by altering the positions of the cams 9% and fit on the shafts; this may become neces- 'sary when pipes or other tubular objects of dilferent sizes or shapes are to be pressed. Thus, when very large pipe is to be formed each loading beam may swing through somewhat less than 189, while with small diameter pipe an arc of movement in excess of may be required; this is occasioned by the fact that the axis of rotation of the shafts 3% and 45 is fixed in relation to the levels of the conveyor rollers and the stationary, lower die, while the center lines of the initial and of the pressed blanks will vary with the pipe diameter.

The'controls for the press may be located at any desired control station. It was found expedient to locate the operator on the ground just beyond the front end of the die l3, between the lines of travel A and B, and to locate the switches 3?, 88 and es and the valve control lever 6? (as well as the controls for the cylinders 22 and 23, not shown) at this station.

The operation will be described with the press initially with a fresh Ushaped, oiled blank W 1. The operator depresses push button 81; this closes magnetic switch 88, thereby energizing motor E8 and rotating shafts 36 and 49 to move the loading beams toward the feed side. The button 8': must beheld down until the movement is completed. When the plungers 42 and discs 43 are in alignment with the work pieces W and W the lobe 55a opens limit switch 9!, thereby opening switch 80 and stopping the motor iii. Button 31 is then released.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the discs are somewhat smaller than the interior of the U- shaped initial work piece W at a on the feed rollers, end else smaller than the bore of the vent the near ends of the cylinders 44 via flexible hose 60, pipe 62 and vent 65. The plungers 42 on each of the four loading beams are thereby moved to their extended positions toward the center of the machine, causing the discs 43 to enter the The lever 61 may open ends of the work pieces. then be released, isolating pipes 6| and 6-2; the plungers 42 will remain in extended positions.

3. The operator depresses push button 88; this closes magnetic switch 8|, thereby energizing motor 18 and rotating shafts 36 and 40 to move the loading beams toward the discharge side. Button 88must be held down until the movement is completed. The work pieces are engaged by the discs 43 during the initial part of this movement and carried in a clockwise direction along the arcs indicated in Fig. 3. The fresh work piece W is carried onto the lower die [3 and into the groove I3a thereof while the finished work piece W is carried onto the discharge conveyor rollers 32 and 33. At the completion of this movement the lobe 96a opens limit switch 92, thereby opening magnetic switch 8| and stopping the motor 18. Button 88 is then released.

It will be noted that the initial U-shaped work piece W, initially in the position indicated at a in dotted lines, has side walls which are slightly convergent and have their upper edges curved or crimped inwardly, and that the discs 43 of the loading beams 34 and 35 are, during step 2, positioned somewhat below the side wall and crimped margins. When the loading beams are rotated the discs engage these parts of the Work piece, causing the latter to be suspended pendulously as is indicated in position b. Although the cylinders 44 are rotated about the axis of shaft 36 the discs 43 move in translatory motion because the plungers 42 are rotatable within the cylinders 44; as a result the work piece is deposited in the lower die l3 as shown in solid lines in position c with the rounded part lowermost. It will be further noted that the movement of the loading beams is continued slightly beyond the point needed to'deposit the Work piece in the forming groove |3a of the lower die, thereby dis engaging the discs 43 from the side walls and crimped margins of the work piece.

It should also be noted that the discs 43 of the loading beams 38 and 39 are, during step 2, aligned concentrically with the pressed or completed work piece W, which has a circular cross section and is resting on the lower die I3. When the loading beams are rotated the discs engage the inner side of the top part of the work piece, suspending it pendulously as is indicated in position d;' these discs and their plungers similarly rotate within the cylinders 44, so that the work piece W is deposited on the discharge conveyor rollers'with the seam uppermost, as indicated in solid lines in position c. It will be further noted that the movement of the loading beams is continued slightly beyond the point needed to deposit the work piece on the rollers 32 and 33, e. g., until thediscs are concentric with the tu bular work piece, thereby disengaging the discs from the work piece, i T 4. Lever 67 is moved to the left, thereby admitting high pressure air. from inlet pipe 66 to pipe 62,.hose 60 and the near ends of the cylinders 44, and venting the remote ends of the cylinders 44 through hose 59, and pipe 6| and vent .65. This retracts the plungers 42 and discs 43 from; the work pieces. The discs 43 are thereby re-; tracted clear of the ends of the work pieces, freeing the loading beams for rotation.

5. The button 8? is depressed, thereby rotating the loading beams in the manner described in. step 1. The button is released when the beams i are upright, in the positions shown in Fig. 1.

This stops the rotation of the loading beams clear of the lines of travel on both conveyors.

6. The following three operations take placesimultaneously:

a. The finished work piece W is discharged on] its conveyor rollers 32 and 33 in the direction indicated by the arrow B (Fig. 2) by operation of the motors 33a, which may be controlled by any desired circuit, not shown.

b. A fresh, oiled work piece W is fed on conveyor rollers 25 and 26 to a position alongside of I or automatically by safety control means, well; known per se, when the die is in engagement with the lower die I 3.

of cylinders 22 and 23 and admits oil to the lower ends thereof, thereby raising the upper die IS.

The pressed work piece W remains on the lower die, and all parts are now again in the starting condition.

While the invention has been described par ticularly as applied to a press, it is evident that the loading mechanism, as a subcombination, may be applied for transferring elongated work pieces to other machines.

I claim as my invention: i 1. A forming press for elongated work pieces comprising, in combination: a pair of'longitudinally elongated, relatively movable forming members; means for moving said members apart and toward each other; support means on one side of said forming members for supporting an elongated work piece alongside of the forming members; and transfer means for engaging the work piece at its ends and transferring it between a position amidst said forming members and said alongside position by a lateral movement of the work piece comprising a loading beam at each end of the forming members having supported ends and free ends and mounted for movement of the free ends transversely to the forming mernf bers, each loading beam having at the free end thereof an engaging plunger movable with re: spect to the loading beam and carriedthereby to enter the end of a hollow work piece, whereby said work piece and engaging plungers are moved transversely when the loading beams are moved simultaneously; said press being unobstructed between said support means and said forming members throughout the distance between said engaging plungers. V 2. The forming press according to claim 1 wherein the engaging plungers are rotatably mounted on theloading beams for rotation about a longitudinal axis, whereby the work piece is free to swing pendulously about said last-named axis with respect to the loading beams and can betransferred in translatory motion despite changes in inclination of the loading beams.

3. The forming press according to claim 1 wherein the engaging plunger is slidably mounted on the loading beam for longitudinal movement and is provided with motor means for effecting longitudinal reciprocatory movement thereof.

4. The forming press according to claim 3 wherein the motor means for eifecting reciprocatory movement of the engaging plunger comprises a fluid-operated motor having a movable element thereof connected to the plunger, and having means for supplying a fiuid thereto.

5. A forming press for elongated work pieces adapted for side loading and side discharging comprising, in combination: a pair of longitudinally elongated, relatively movable forming members; means for moving said members apart and toward each other; a support on each side of said forming members, the first for supporting elongated work pieces to be formed alongside said forming members on one side thereof and the second for supporting formed work pieces discharged from the press on the other side thereof; a first pair of engaging plungers at opposite ends of the forming members for supportingly engaging a work piece to be formed at the ends thereof when on said first support; a second pair of engaging plungers at opposite ends of the forming members for supportingly engaging a formed work piece at the ends thereof when amidst said forming members; and a separate, pivotally mounted loading beam for each of said engaging plungers, each plunger being reciprocably movably mounted on its respective loading beam and disposed to enter an end of a hollow elongated work piece, said loading beams being mounted for loading a work piece to be formed from the first support on one side of the forming members to a position amidst the forming members by lateral movement of the work piece and for discharging a formed work piece from a position amidst the forming members onto said second support on the other side by a lateral movement of the work piece; said press being unobstructed on both sides between the forming members and the supports throughout the distance between said engaging plungers.

6. A die press for forming elongated articles from elongated channel-like blanks comprising, in combination: a lower die and a vertically movable upper die, said dies being longitudinally elongated and having cooperating forming surfaces; means for raising and lowering the upper die; a first support on one side of the press for supporting elongated blanks alongside of said dies; a second support on the other side of the press for supporting formed elongated articles discharged from the press; a first pair of loading beams beyond and near to the opposite ends of the dies pivotally mounted at points between said dies and said first support; a second pair of loading beams beyond and near to the opposite ends of the dies pivotally mounted at points between said dies and said second support; means for rotating said pairs of beams to extend selectively toward thelower die or toward their respectively adjacent supports; engaging means on said first pair of loading beams for supportingly engaging a blank on the first support at the ends of the blank; and engaging means on said second pair of loading beams for supportingly engaging a' formed elongated article on the lower die at the ends of said article; said press being unobstructed on each side between said lower die and the supports throughout the distance between said loading beams, whereby a blank to be formed can be loaded by a lateral motion thereof from the first support to a position on the lower die and a formed elongated article can be discharged by a lateral motion thereof from said lower die to the second support when the upper die is in its raised position.

7. The die press according to claim 6 wherein the means for rotating the loading beams comprising a driving element connected for driving both pairs of loading beams in unison, the loading beams being indexed so that the engaging means on each pair of loading beams are in alignment with each other on a line above the lower die when the engaging means on the other pair of loading beams are in alignment above their support.

8. The die press according to claim '7 wherein the drive means is adjustable for varying the inoexing between the first pair of loading beams and the second pair of loading beams, wherebythe beams and the positions of their engaging elements can be adjusted for handling work pieces of different shapes.

9. The die press according to claim 6 wherein the engaging means comprises an engaging plunger mounted on each loading beam, the piungers on beams of the same pair being in alignment Wit'h' each other and at least the engaging portions thereof being movable toward each other for entering the ends of a hollow work piece to engage the inside thereof.

10. In combination with the die press according to claim 9, motor means for moving said engaging plungers axially into and out of the work piece.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the loading beams are journalled for rotation in fixed parallel planes and the engaging plunger-s are axially movable on said loading beams, and the motor means comprises: pneumatic cylinders and pistons mounted on said beams and fluid conduit means for supplying fiuid under pressure thereto.

12. The die press according to claim 6 wherein the supports are conveyors arranged for conveying. work pieces in the form of elongated, channel-like blanks by endwise movement thereof to a position on one side. of the dies and parallel thereto and for conveying formed elongated articles from a position on the other side of the dies and parallel thereto by endwise movement thereof, said loading beams being movable to simultaneous upright positions clear of said 0011-, veyors for permitting simultaneous operation of both conveyors and of the press. v

13. A die press for bending U-shaped chan nels-having upright side walls converging at the margins to afford a support when internally en-j gaged by an engaging plunger, to form tubes comprising, in combination: a lower die and a vertically movable upper die, said dies being longitudinally elongated and having longitudinal forming grooves; means for raising and lowering the upper die; a conveyor having rollers on each side ofthe lower die, the first conveyor being disposed for feeding said channels by an endwise movement on said rollers to a position along one side of the lower die, and the second conveyor being disposed for discharging tubes from a position along the other side of the lower die by an endwise movement on said rollers; a first pair of loading beams beyond and near to the opposite ends of the lower die pivotally mounted for rotation about a common longitudinal axis between said die and the first conveyor; a second pair of loading beams beyond and near to the opposite ends of the lower die pivotal- 1y mounted for rotation about a common longitudinal axis between said die and the second conveyor; means for rotating the two "beams of each pair of beams in unison about their respective axes between positions toward their respective conveyors and toward said lower die; a longitudinally movable engaging plunger reciprocally mounted-on each loading beam, the plungers on the first pair of beams being disposed to enter the ends of a channel on the first conveyor for supportingly engaging the channel and the plungers on the second pair of beams being disposed to enter the ends of a tube on'the lower die for supportingly engaging the tube; and means for reciprocating said plungerswith respect to the loading beams; said press being unobstructed on each side between the lower die and the conveyors throughout the distance between said loading beams, whereby a channel can be loaded laterally from the first conveyor onto the lower die and a tube can be simultaneously unloaded laterally from the lower die onto the second conveyor by synchronously rotating both pairs of beams in the same direction when said upper die is raised.

14. The die according to claim 13 wherein said loading beams are disposed to have simultaneous stationary raised positions, whereby a new channel can be moved by said first conveyor to a position alongside of the lower die and a tube can be moved by said second conveyor away from a position alongside of the lower die while the upper die is being moved down to perform a forming operation.

15. Transfer mechanism for moving elongated objects comprising a pair of loading beams pivotally mounted for rotation about a common axis; means for rotating said beams synchronously; and a pair of axially reciprocable engaging plungers mounted one on each loading beam, in alignment with each other and extending from said beams toward each other.

16. The transfer mechanism according to claim 15 wherein the plungers are rotatable about a longitudinal axis with respect to said loading beams, whereby an elongated work piece engaged thereby can be carried pendulously.

17. Transfer mechanism for moving elongated objects comprising a pair of loading beams pivotally mounted for rotation about a. common axis; means for rotating said beams synchronously; a pair of axially reciprocable engaging 14 plungers mounted one on each loading beam, in alignment with each other and extending from said beams toward each other; and motor means on each of said loading beams for moving said engaging plungers.

18. The transfer mechanism according to claim 17 wherein each motor means comprises a pneumatic cylinder and a double-acting piston, one on the loading beam and the other on the plunger, and conduit means for admitting fluid under pressure to the cylinder selectively to either side of the piston.

19. Transfer mechanism for simultaneously moving an elongated object laterally from one side of a support onto said support and discharging another object laterally from said support comprising a pair of loading beams on each side of said support near the ends thereof, each pair of beams being pivotally mounted for rotation about a common axis; means for rotating each pair of beams synchronously; and an axially reciprocable engaging plunger slidably mounted on each loading beam, the plungers on each pair of beams being in alignment and extending from their respective beams toward each other.

20. In combination with the transfer mechanism according to claim 19, mechanical means connecting said pairs of loading beams for effecting synchronous movement of all four beams.

21. Transfer mechanism for moving elongated objects comprising a pair of loading beams pivotally mounted for rotation about a common axis; means for rotating said beams synchronously comprising an electric motor; a pair of axially reciprocable engaging plungers mounted one on each loading beam, in alignment with each other and extending from said beams toward each other; an electric control circuit for said motor; and a limit switch in said control circuit mechanically connected to said loading beams for stopping the motor when the loading beams are rotated to a predetermined position.

DONALD O. McCALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 693,097 Baldwin Feb. 11, 1902 1,368,780 Anderson Feb. 15, 1921 1,879,078 Carlsen Sept. 27, 1932 1,933,226 Smith etffal. Oct. 31, 1933 2,001,902 Englebertz May 21, 1935 2,453,947 Swift Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,732 Great Britain Apr. 8, 1892 

